Biochemistry BA
The BA degree with a concentration in Biochemistry provides specific coursework in biochemistry, a field that requires a balance of knowledge in chemistry and biology.
Today, many careers make intensive application of Biochemistry:
- Pharmaceutical/ Medicinal Chemistry
- Medicine
- Microbiology
- Physiology
- Genetics
- Basic Research
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Biomedical Management
- Biomedical Instrumentation
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology
- Biotechnology
- Diagnostics
- Clinical Chemistry
- Pharmacy
- Biotechnology
Requirements - Bachelor of Arts Degree
Units required for Major: 64 -77
Minimum total units required for the BA: 120
A minimum grade of ''C-'' is required in all courses applied to the Chemistry major. Grades below "C-" in prerequisite courses do not satisfy prerequisite requirements.
Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.
A. Core Requirements (39-43 units)
| (5) | CHEM 1A* | General Chemistry I (High school chemistry and college algebra; sufficient performance on the college algebra diagnostic test, or equivalent) |
| (5) | CHEM 1B | General Chemistry II (CHEM 1A with a passing grade of "C" or better) |
| (3) | CHEM 24 | Organic Chemistry Lecture I (CHEM 1B) |
| (3) | CHEM 25 | Organic Chemistry Lab (CHEM 24, CHEM 124; CHEM 124 may be taken concurrently) |
| (4) | CHEM 31 | Quantitative Analysis (CHEM 1B) |
| (3) | CHEM 124 | Organic Chemistry Lecture II (CHEM 24, or instructor permission; concurrent enrollment in CHEM 25 recommended) |
| (4) | MATH 30 | Calculus I (MATH 29 or four years of high school mathematics which includes two years of algebra, one year of geometry, and one year of mathematical analysis; completion of ELM requirement and Pre-Calculus diagnostic test) |
| (4) | MATH 31 | Calculus II (MATH 30 or appropriate high school based AP credit) |
| (8-12) | PHYS 5A | General Physics: Mechanics, Heat, Sound (Recently completed three years of high school algebra and geometry; and a college course in algebra and trigonometry; MATH 9 recommended for those having an inadequate mathematics background AND |
| PHYS 5B | General Physics: Light, Electricity, and Magnetism, Modern Physics (PHYS 5A or instructor permission) OR |
|
| PHYS 11A | General Physics: Mechanics (MATH 30, MATH 31 or equivalent certificated high school courses; MATH 31 may be taken concurrently) AND | |
| PHYS 11B | General Physics: Heat, Light, Sound (MATH 31, PHYS 11A) AND | |
| PHYS 11C | General Physics: Electricity and Magnetism, Modern Physics (MATH 31, PHYS 11A) |
*Passing a placement exam or obtaining a passing grade of "C" or better in CHEM 4 is required to enroll in CHEM 1A.
| Biochemistry Concentration (32-34 units) | ||
| (5) | BIO 1 | Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology |
| (5) | BIO 2 | Cells, Molecules and Genes (BIO 1, CHEM 1A) |
| (4-6) | CHEM 140A | Physical Chemistry Lecture I (CHEM 1B, CHEM 24, CHEM 31, MATH 32, PHYS 5A, PHYS 5B or PHYS 11A,PHYS 11B, PHYS 11C; PHYS 11C may be taken concurrently) AND |
| CHEM 140B | Physical Chemistry Lecture II (CHEM 140A) OR |
|
| CHEM 142 | Introduction to Physical Chemistry (CHEM 1B, CHEM 24, PHYS 5A, PHYS 5B, MATH 31) | |
| (3) | CHEM 160A | Structure and Function of Biological Molecules (CHEM 124, MATH 26A or MATH 30 is recommended) |
| (3) | CHEM 160B | Metabolism and Regulation of Biological Systems (CHEM 160A or equivalent; one year of organic chemistry) |
| (3) | CHEM 162 | General Biochemistry Laboratory (CHEM 31, CHEM 160A or CHEM 161 either may be taken concurrently, ENGL 20 or an equivalent second semester composition course) |
| (3) | CHEM 164 | Advanced Biochemistry Laboratory (CHEM 162 or equivalent, ENGL 20 or an equivalent second semester composition course) |
| (6) Electives in Biological Sciences (must be from the following courses): BIO 121, BIO 131, BIO 139, BIO 180 and BIO 184. | ||
Note: Students may also complete a BA with a concentration in Biochemistry by taking the general BA curriculum and completing the following additional courses: BIO 1, BIO 2, CHEM 160A, CHEM 160B, CHEM 162, CHEM 164, and 6 units of upper division Biology courses from the approved list.
